The Process Report

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The Rays & The Rule 5 Draft: Who They’ve Taken

2009Selection: 13Pick: Armando ZerpaOrganization: BostonPosition: LHPFate: The Rays quickly sold Zerpa to the Los Angeles Dodgers in a draft day deal. (The Dodgers returned him to Boston before breaking camp). Pre-draft rumors had the Rays interested in a live arm from Washington by the name of Zechry Zinicola, but he went picks earlier to the Blue Jays. Worth noting is that Zinicola is available in this year’s draft too and could possibly step right into a big league bullpen.

2008 Selection: Derek RodriguezPick: 19Organization: Chicago (A)Position: RHPFate: A side-arming groundballer, Rodriguez went to camp with the team and had a chance to make the Opening Day bullpen. He didn’t and was returned to the White Sox in late March. Oddly enough, the Rays had three members of the 2008 White Sox’s Triple-A bullpen in their camp that spring; Rodriguez, Dewon Day, and Jason Childers.

2007Selection: Tim LaheyPick: 1Organization: Minnesota TwinsPosition: RHPFate: Traded to the Chicago Cubs and would return to Minnesota, but not before being claimed on waivers by the Philadelphia Phillies.

2005Selection: Steven AndradePick: 3Organization: TorontoPosition: RHPFate: Traded to the San Diego Padres, Andrade would return to the team years later as a minor league free agent.

2003 Selection: Alec ZumwaltPick: 3Organization: AtlantaPosition: RHPFate: Zumwalt was an outfielder-turned-pitcher coming off a strong performance in the Arizona Fall League. He sat in the low-90s with command issues and ultimately didn’t work out. Credit to outside the box thinking.

2002 Selection: Hector LunaPick: 2Organization: ClevelandPosition: INFFate: Luna was returned to Cleveland on Opening Day and wound up being taken in the Rule 5 draft again the following year. That time he stuck with St. Louis.

2001Selection: Kevin McGlinchyPick: 1Organization: AtlantaPosition: RHPFate: Very well could be the best Rule 5 pick in franchise history. McGlinchy had previous success in the majors, but injuries and attrition wiped him out before he ever made an appearance for the Rays.

1998Selection: David LambPick: 2Organization: BaltimorePosition: INFFate: The only Rule 5 pick from the Rays who ever appeared in a regular season game with the team just so happened to be the first. He didn’t play too well, though, hitting .226/.284/.306 in 134 plate appearances.